LASIEC to hold LG election in July

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission
(LASIEC) has announced that it would conduct elections
into the 57 Local Governments/Local Council
Development Areas of the State on Saturday, 22nd July,
2017 while run-off/re-run elections would be conducted
on Saturday, 29th July, 2017.
This was contained in a Notice of Election signed by the
Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Justice Ayotunde
Philips, on Friday 7th April, 2017.
According to the Notice, the Commission would meet
with Political Parties on Tuesday 13th April, 2017;
Election Guidelines is expected to be released by the
Commission on Friday, 14th April, 2017.
The Notice stated further that political campaigns by
political parties would commence on Saturday, 15th April
and end on Thursday 20th July, 2017 while collection of
nomination forms by political parties would begin on
Tuesday 18th April, 2017 and end on Friday, 19th May,
2017. Nomination forms are expected to be submitted to
the Commission by Political Parties between
Wednesday, 19th April and Monday 22nd May, 2017.
It added that conduct of primary elections by political
parties which must be observed by the Commission
would take place between Monday, 17th April, and
Thursday, 18th May, 2017.
The Notice stated further that there would be a display
of the names of nominated candidates and persons
nominating them at the headquarters of their Local
Governments or Local Council Development Areas (for
Chairmanship Candidates) and at the Ward Collation
Centres (for Councillorship Candidates) on Friday 26th,
May, 2017. The Commission also disclosed that it would
embark on the display of the Register of Voters for the
elections at Ward Collation Centres on Saturday, 17th
June, 2017.
With the release of the Notice of Election by the
Commission, it is expected that political activities will
rise considerably at the Local Government level of the
State.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Commission, Hon.
Justice Ayotunde Phillips, has also appealed to eligible
voters who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter
Cards (PVCs) to do so to enable them actively participate
in the elections.
Hon. Justice Phillips made the appeal while speaking at
the opening ceremony of a five-day Bridge Election
Professional Development Training organised by the
Commission in collaboration with the International
Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) for the
Chairman, Commissioners, Permanent Secretary and
Senior Staff of the Commission.
While commending IFES on capacity development for the
personnel of the Commission, the Chairman charged
participants to seize the opportunity offered by the
training programme to further equip themselves with the
knowledge and skills required for the conduct of credible
elections into the Local Governments and Local Council
Development Areas of Lagos State.
She expressed the commitment of the Commission to
regular training and retraining of all its election personnel
so as to keep them up to date with the changing
dynamics in electoral processes, both domestically and
internationally.
The Chairman also pledged the determination of the
Commission to strive to meet the legitimate
expectations of the people of the State for hitch-free,
credible and successful elections into the Local
Governments/Local Council Development Areas of the
State.
Hon. Justice Phillips also acknowledged the support
given to the Commission by the administration of
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode which she said has put the
Commission in a good stead to effectively discharge its
responsibilities as an independent electoral umpire at the
Local Government level in the State.
She also commended the International Foundation for
Electoral Systems (IFES) and its sponsors for their
unrelenting support towards the capacity building of the
staff of the Commission in election administration,
management and international best practices. The five-
day course will end on Wednesday, 12th April, 2017.